Wave guide switch



Nov. 17, 1964 D. H. LANCTOT 3,157,844

WAVE GUIDE swmca Filed June 2. 1961 I F? WI" I I INVENTOR.

DONAI .D' H. LANCTOT FIGZ. BYWa/ W United States Patent 3,157,844 WAVE GUlDE SWITCH Donald H. Lanctot, Malibu, Calif., assignor to Don-Lari Electronic, line, a corporation of California Filed .lune 2, 1961, Scr. No. 114,5il4 8 Claims. (Cl. 333-7) This invention relates to microwave components and more particularly to an improved wave guide switch for connecting and disconnecting wave guide passages.

The efficiency of wave guides for carrying electromagnetic energy depends in large part upon the maintenance of continuity in the guide walls. Towards this end, any switching structure through which energy is directed should be designed in such a manner as to minimize any protuberances or discontinuities in the connecting passages defined by the switching structure.

Other important considerations in switch design include the proper angular geometry for maximum power transfer through bends, provision of a high degree of isolation between disconnected wave guide passages, and a design in which switching from one wave guide passage to another can take place under power. The switching structure should also be dynamically balanced throughout so that unexpected shocks or high g loadings will not inadvertently cause operation of the switch.

A further important consideration particularly in the case of airborne microwave equipment is to provide as light and small a structure as possible in view of given guide dimensions.

With the foregoing in mind, it is a primary object of this invention to provide a greatly improved wave guide switch in which all of the foregoing considerations are realized.

More particularly, it is an object to provide a switch in which connected passages exhibit minimum discontinuities in the switch passage walls, the walls themselves forming equal angles where required to direct the energy through a bend.

Other important objects are to provide a switch which may be operated under power, which is dynamically balanced throughout, and which is of an optimum design so that maximum volume is utilized for a given wave guide size.

Briefly, these and many other objects and advantages of this invention are attained by providing the switch in the form of a block member preferably cubicle in shape. The block includes a central bore and wave guide passages extending inwardly from the exterior side faces to terminate at the side walls of the bore. A switching means in the form of a vane extends within the central bore between the top and bottom faces of the block and is arranged to be rotated about an axis passing midway through the vane and coinciding with the bore axis. By this arrangement, the vane bridges the bore and may be diagonally positioned with reference to the cubicle block structure to connect adjacent wave guide passages and simultaneously isolate other passages. Rotation of the vane through ninety degrees will then isolate the previously connected passages and eifect new connections between the other passages.

Because of the symmetry of the structure, dynamic balancing is insured. Further, optimum geometrical design for connected wave guide passages to minimize loss of energy in transit through the switch is provided.

An important feature of the invention also contemplates the provision of electromagnetic means for rotating the switch vane. The design of the switch structure itself lends itself to operating by electromagnetic means without appreciably increasing the overall size of the structure.

A better understanding of the invention will be had by referring to a preferred embodiment as illustrated in the accornapnying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the wave guide switch of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a broken away exploded view illustrating certain components of the switch of FIGURE 1;-

FIGURE 3 is a plan cross section taken in the direction of the arrows 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a cross section taken in the directio of the arrows ii of FIGURE 3; and,

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view taken in the direction of the arrows 5-5 of FIGURE 1.

Referring to FIGURES 1, 2, and 3, the wave guide switch comprises a cubicle block 10 having first, second, third, and fourth wave guide passages ll, 12, 13, and 14 extending inwardly from the side faces of the block as shown most clearly in FIGURE 3. The top of the block is provided with a cover 15 including a suitable terminal connector 16.

As shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, the block includes a central cylindrical bore 17 extending between its upper and lower faces, the various wave guide passages 11 through 314 terminating at the lateral side walls of the bore.

Arranged to be received within the central bore 17 is a switching means including a vane 18 terminating in lower and upper cylindrical guide ends 19 and 20. Ad-

jacent the guide ends 19 and 20 are bearing races 21 and 22 from which shaft ends 23 and 24 protrude. The upper end of the shaft 24 terminates in a transverse armature 25 secured to the vane 18 through the shaft for rotating the vane. The cylindrical end guides 19 and 20 serve to center the vane within the bore .17 and define smooth top and bottom walls for maintaining continuity between connected wave guide passages. The height of the vane 18 corresponds to the vertical dimension of the wave guide passages and the width of the vane 18 substantially corresponds to the diameter of the bore 17. Rotation of the vane takes place about an axis passing midway vertically through the vane. This axis is coincident with the axis of the bore 17.

With particular reference to FIGURE 3, it will be noted that with the foregoing arrangement, the vane bridges the bore and may be switched between a first position in which the plane of the vane is diagonally aligned with reference to the cube 10, to the second diagonal position ninety degrees from the first position. Thus, when in the first solid lineposition shown in FIG- URE 3, the first wave guide passage 11 is connected to the second wave guide passage 12, and the third wave guide passage 13 is connected to the fourth wave guide passage 14. When the vane isrotated ninety degrees to the dotted line position shown in FIGURE 3, the second wave guide passage 12 connects to the third wave 7 guide passage 13, and the fourth wave guide passage 14 connects to the first wave guide passage 11.

To minimize any discontinuities at the' edge of -the vane 18, these edges are flared and provided with longitudinal grooves receiving biasing means in the form of coil springs 18a and 18b. These springs extend above and below the long dimension of the vane 18 itself partially into the guide ends 19 and 20 so that these upper and lower portions of the. spring coils are in constant engagement with the upper and lower inside surfaces of the central bore 17. Further, when the vane is in either its first or second position depicted in FIGURE 3, the coil springs are in pressing engagement with the sidesof the bore 17 to insure complete electrical continuity. By flaring the longitudinal edges of the vane 18 as shown, equal bend angles are defined and an excellent continuity of the side walls of the wave guide passages is realized.

In accordance with an important feature of the invention, the vane is operated between its solid and dotted line positions by electromagnetic actuating means. This structure is incorporated in the block 10 and includes an electromagnet defined by pole arms 26 and 27 extending between the top and bottom faces of the block adjacent diagonal corners and surrounded by energizing coils 28 and 29, respectively. The top portions of the poles terminate in pole pieces 30 and 31 disposed diametrically opposite each other with respect to the central bore 17 at the upper part of the block 10. In this position, the armature 25 is disposed between the pole pieces and, as shown in FIGURE 5, includes an asymmetrical tip 25a such that it will be rotated from the dotted to the solid line position upon energization of the electromagnetic coils.

A stop in the form of a permanent magnet 32 is provided for checking movement of the armature when in its dotted line position. A second stop in the form of a small spring 33 in turn is provided to check movement of the armature 25 when in its solid line position.

The assembly is completed by a biasing spring 34 connected to one of the pole pieces as at 35 and terminating on the opposite end of the armature at a point 36 spaced slightly to one side of a straight line connecting the pole pieces 30 and 31. By this arrangement, the biasing spring 34 exerts a variable torque which, when algebraically summed with the torque provided by the electromagnet upon energization, results in a substantially constant net torque over a major portion of the rotational movement of the armature.

The operation of the wave guide switch will be understood from the above description. When the electromagnetic coils are not energized, the spring 34 will bias the armature 25 and thus the vane 18 to the dotted line position illustrated in FIGURE 5, which position will correspond to the dotted line position of the vane 18 shown in FIGURE 3. In this position, the wave guide passages 12 and 13 will be connected together, and the wave guide passages 14 and 11 will be connected together. It should be noted that the wave guide passages 13 and 14 are isolated from each other, and similarly the wave guide passages 11 and 12 are isolated from each other.

When the electromagnet is energized by suitable electrical energy passed through the terminal connector 16 of FIGURE 1 to the electromagnetic coils 28 and 29, the armature asa consequence of its asymmetrical tip portion 25a will'be rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE against the bias of the spring 34. The torque provided by the electromagnet is sufiiciently great to overcome the attraction of the permanent magnet 32 so that the armature will be released and rotated to the solid line position shown in FIGURE 5. The vane will thus be moved to the solid line position shown in FIGURE 3. In this position, the passage 11 will be connected to the passage 12, and the passage 13 will be connected to the passage 14.

By having the electromagnetic coils within diagonal regions of the block 10, as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, maximum utilization of the available volume of the switch structure is realized. Thus, the overall dimensions of the switch are optimized to provide maximum miniaturization in view of given wave guide passage dimensions. Further, since the vane 18 is arranged to rotate about a vertical axis passing midway through the vane, it is at all times dynamically balanced. The wiping action realized by the coil springs at the longitudinal edges of the vane against the inside surfaces of the bore 17 will insure, as mentioned heretofore, complete electrical continuity. In addition, when the vane is at a 45 angle during switching, it will provide half-height wave guides so that minimum interference exists when switching under power.

While only one particular embodiment has been shown and described, it will be understood that many changes and modifications falling clearly within the scope and spirit of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art. The wave guide switch is, therefore, not to be thought of as limited to the exact embodiment set forth merely for illustrative purposes.

What is claimed is:

1. A wave guide switch, including:

a block having a central bore defined by an interior wall, the block also having four side faces each having a wave guide passage which extends inwardly from the face and which has a disposition constituting a linear extension of one of the other passages and intersects the other wave guide passages at the central bore within the block,

switching means disposed within the central bore of the block and extending to the interior wall of the bore,

means supporting the switching means within the central bore of the block and providing pivotal movement of the switching means between first and second positions within the bore where the first position provides a communication between first and second of the four bores and between third and fourth of the four bores and where the second position provides a communication between the first and third of the four bores and between the second and fourth of the four bores,

means operatively coupled to the switching means for biasing the switching means to the first pivotal positron,

electromagnetic means operatively coupled to the switching means for controlling the pivotal movement of the switching means from the first pivotal position to the second pivotal position upon an electromagnetic excitation of the electromagnetic means, and

electromagnetic exciting means disposed within the block between the wave guide passages and electromagnetically coupled to the electromagnetic means for electromagnetically exciting the electromagnetic means to obtain a movement of the switching means from the first pivotal position to the second pivotal position.

2. The wave guide switch set forth in claim 1 wherein resilient means are disposed on the external surface of the switching means against the interior wall defining the central bore and are carried by the switching means to facilitate the electrical coupling between the different pairs of the wave guide passages in the first and second pivotal positions of the switching means.

3. The wave guide switch set forth in claim 1 wherein means are operatively coupled to the switching means and to the block to return the switching means toward the first pivotal position upon the termination of the excitation of the electromagnetic driving means and wherein magnetic means are disposed on the block in magnetically coupled relationship to the electromagnetic driven means to position the switching means at the first pivotal position upon the return of the electromagnetic driven means toward the first pivotal position.

4. The wave guide switch set forth in claim 3 wherein resilient means are disposed on the external surface of the switching means against the interior wall defining the central bore and are carried by the switching means to facilitate the electrical coupling between the different pairs of the wave guide passages in the first and second pivotal positions of the switching means.

5. A wave guide switch, including:

a block having a central bore defined by an interior wall, the block also having four side faces each having a wave guide passage which extends inwardly from the face and which has a disposition constituting a linear extension of one of the other passages switching means disposed within the central bore of the block and extending tothe interior wall of the bore,

means coupled to the switching means for providing for a pivotal movement of the switching means between first and second pivotal positions where the switching means provides for an electrical coupling between first and second of the four wave guide passages and between third and fourth of the four wave guide passages through the central bore in the first pivotal position and where the switching means provides for an electrical coupling between the first and third of the four wave guide passages and between the second and fourth of the wave guide passages through the central bore in the second pivotal position,

driving means disposed in the block at positions between the first and second passages and between the third and fourth passages for producing a driving field upon excitation, and

driven means operatively coupled to the switching means and disposed in the driving field for obtaining a movement of the switching means from the first pivotal position to the second pivotal position upon the occurrence of the driving field, the driven means being provided with a configuration relative to the driving means to provide for a pivotal movement of the switching means only in a particular direction upon an excitation of the driving means.

6. The wave guide switch set forth in claim 5 wherein means are operatively coupled to the switching means to bias the switching means to the first pivotal position and in which first stop means are disposed on the block and are operatively coupled to the switch ing means to position the switching means at the first pivotal position upon a movement of the switching means from the second switching means to the first pivotal position and in which second stop means are disposed on the block and are operatively coupled to the switching means to position the switching means at the second pivotal position upon a movement of the switching means from the first pivotal position to the second pivotal position. 7. The wave guide set forth in claim 6 wherein resilient means are disposed on the switching means in operatively coupled relationship to the interior wall defining the central bore in the block to facilitate the passage of energy between the particular pairs of wave guide passages in the first and second pivotal dispositions of the switching means and to block the passage of energy between any other pairs of wave guide passages in the first and second pivotal dispositions of the switching means. 8. The Wave guide switch set forth in claim 7 wherein the driving and driven means are electromagnetic and wherein the driven means is asymmetrical in a particular direction to assure the pivotal movement of the switching means in that direction from the first pivotal position to the second pivotal position upon the excitation of the driving means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,356,501 Adams et al Oct. 19, 1920 1,758,749 Knight May 13, 1930 2,814,782 Zaleski NOV. 26, 1957 2,917,719 Brown Dec. 15, 1959 2,999,213 Olivieri et al. Sept. 5, 1961 

1. A WAVE GUIDE SWITCH, INCLUDING: A BLOCK HAVING A CENTRAL BORE DEFINED BY AN INTERIOR WALL, THE BLOCK ALSO HAVING FOUR SIDE FACES EACH HAVING A WAVE GUIDE PASSAGE WHICH EXTENDS INWARDLY FROM THE FACE AND WHICH HAS A DISPOSITION CONSTITUTING A LINEAR EXTENSION OF ONE OF THE OTHER PASSAGES AND INTERSECTS THE OTHER WAVE GUIDE PASSAGES AT THE CENTRAL BORE WITHIN THE BLOCK, SWITCHING MEANS DISPOSED WITHIN THE CENTRAL BORE OF THE BLOCK AND EXTENDING TO THE INTERIOR WALL OF THE BORE, MEANS SUPPORTING THE SWITCHING MEANS WITHIN THE CENTRAL BORE OF THE BLOCK AND PROVIDING PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF THE SWITCHING MEANS BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND POSITIONS WITHIN THE BORE WHERE THE FIRST POSITION PROVIDES A COMMUNICATION BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND OF THE FOUR BORES AND BETWEEN THIRD AND FOURTH OF THE FOUR BORES AND WHERE THE SECOND POSITION PROVIDES A COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE FIRST AND THIRD OF THE FOUR BORES AND BETWEEN THE SECOND AND FOURTH OF THE FOUR BORES, MEANS OPERATIVELY COUPLED TO THE SWITCHING MEANS FOR BIASING THE SWITCHING MEANS TO THE FIRST PIVOTAL POSITION, ELECTROMAGNETIC MEANS OPERATIVELY COUPLED TO THE SWITCHING MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF THE SWITCHING MEANS FROM THE FIRST PIVOTAL POSITION TO THE SECOND PIVOTAL POSITION UPON AN ELECTROMAGNETIC EXCITATION OF THE ELECTROMAGNETIC MEANS, AND ELECTROMAGNETIC EXCITING MEANS DISPOSED WITHIN THE BLOCK BETWEEN THE WAVE GUIDE PASSAGES AND ELECTROMAGNETICALLY COUPLED TO THE ELECTROMAGNETIC MEANS FOR ELECTROMAGNETICALLY EXCITING THE ELECTROMAGNETIC MEANS TO OBTAIN A MOVEMENT OF THE SWITCHING MEANS FROM THE FIRST PIVOTAL POSITION TO THE SECOND PIVOTAL POSITION. 